Quick-break switch mechanism



B. E. GETCHELL.

QUICK BREAK SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26; 1920.

Patented June 6, 1922.4-

. W 2 SHEETS-SHEET l- B. E. GETCHELL. QUICK BREAK SWITCH MECHANISM.

. APPLICATION FILED APR.26. 1920. 1,418,558.

Patented June 6, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

' Inventor:

rinflfenrorr cs.

BENJAMIN am s orfrnernvrnnn; comncrrcur, iassrenon To run TRUMIBULL ELECTRIC mreiuca; .or-frmmvILLE; connnc rrco'r, acoara.

; RATION or connncrrcu'r.

omeK-Bn nex-swrrcir mncnmsm. I i

1 sme m a se men; Patented" June 6, 1922.

" a plicati n's i am-mo; ser a No. 376,663..

Be it known that I, B NaAiurn G l 1T- oHELL, a citizen of the United States of- America, residing at Plainville, Connecticut, have invented a new. and useful'Quicle lowing is a specification. Mv 1nvent1on Break Switch Mechanism,'of'which the folis more fullydeveloped mya'pplicati'on The mainobject of the-invention claimed herein 'is' to provide a 1 rugged and reliable mechanism which mayk be' operated "to close the circuit by-hand byjthe single throw of a handle and to insurean' automatic quick,

break entirely beyondithe f, control of the operator when thehan'd'le hasjbeen started toward the open circuit-position.

Anotherobject is to arrangejthe nism so as to provides. maximum leverage in openingand closing thfsw'itch', so that a comparatively light spring may be employed for operating the switch without requiring an excessive force for the handoperatlons.

Fig. 1 is-a' front View oftheparts of an enclosed type of switch embodying the improvements' of my invention, the parts being shown in the closed circuit pos ition.- I Fig. 2 is a vertical section and side view looking from the left ofF-ig, 1. g

Fig. 3 is a similarview showing the parts .in the open circuit position.

Fig. 4 is a new on a larger scale showing the parts in the position which they would occupy when opening the circuit by hand at the instant when the automaticrelease has taken place and while the handle is still held by the operator and showing theiautomatic' low voltage or under voltage release in the position'it would occupy with the current still on;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view on a larger scale showing parts of the release mechanism.

The box or receptacle 10 constitutes the support for all of the mechanism. In the form shown, the switch is provided with relates particularly to ,enclosed switch mechanismin which the cir-' cuit is adapted to be closed by'han'd-and opened by hand. It will be obviousg'how ever, that the invention in its" broadest aspect-- is not limited toan enclosed switch. I also have designed the mechanism with the in-. tention that the circuit maybe opened automatically, but this aspect-of the invention mechav .three 'blades such as eachfofuwhich is pivoted-to a post 12 and adapted to engage a spring clip 13 These parts aresupported on an insulating base 14 as is customary. It'will be obvious that-thenumber of switch blades and contacts is immaterial to this-in- 1. ,vention; The" blades are all connected by an'insulating cross piece 15.

which hub extends through into the inside [61 the receptacle for connection to the switch blades.v ".Ongthe inside of the receptacle is 'aiU-shapedcrank 18 having one end-connected ftothe hub 17 and the other end pivoted in a supportv 19. The'cross bar 20 has its ends pivoted at 20 in the walls of the receptacle.

This cross baris connected by'one or more linkse2l to the cross bar 15. The crank 18 ;1s 'com1ected to the cross bar 20 by means of a hinged link consisting of the bars 23 and 24 which are pivoted together at 25'. A spring 26 is connected at one end to a lug 27 in the receptacle and at the other end to a screw 28 in the bar 24. The bar 24 is preferably double, one part being on each side of theupper endof the bar 23. Between the two sides of the upper end of the bar 24 is pivoted a latch 29 on the cross bar 20. This latch'has a shoulder 30 whichis normally engaged by the tip 31 on the upper end of the bar 23 when the parts are in the positions The operating handle'16. has a hub 17 V vpmou'nted in one-wall of the receptacle 10,

shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In this position the two bars 23 and 24 act as if they were in one iece, the spring 26 pulling downward with't e pivot center 25 in the back of or to the left, as'viewed in Figs'. 2 and 3, of the center line between the cross bar 20 and the cross piece of the crank 18 so that the tension on the spring is trying all the time to pull the pivot 25 to the right, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, or forward, which movement is normally prevented b the engagement of the tip 31 with thes oulder 30 'on the latch 29;

When the operator starts to open the switch the outward swinging of the handle swings the crank 18 and the lower end of the folding link outwardly and downwardly. When the handle and crank'reach the position shown in Fig. 4;, the rear end of the tip 32 of the latch 29 engages the trip catch 33,

net 35, an armature This occurs before the switch blade 11 leaves to return the handle to its normal open circuit position as shown in Fig. 3. In returning to this position'it will be noted that the tip 31 is reengaged with the catch shoulder 30. For this purpose the rear approach to the shoulder 30 ispreferably inclined as shown. I

The latch 29 is recessed at the upper portion as shown at 39 and a pin38 is secured in the bar' 24 and fits in said recess. This construction provides for a limited movement of the latch, the edges of the recess at the extreme limits of movement of the latch abutting against said pin 38. The latch 29 may be enlarged as shown at 39 to provide an abutment for the upper end oflthebar 23 in one direction. I I

It will be seen that the bars 23 and 24 constitute a hinge which is normally rigid formoving-the switch but when the latch is moved the rigidity of the hinge is broken.

Other arrangements or" latch 29 will beobvious' to those skilled in the art.

It will be noted that I have also provided anelectro-magnetic trip consisting of a mag- 36 and a ,member 37 adapted to engage the front end of thc latch member 29 when the electro-magnet is deenergized. This construction is claimed in another application.

I claim:

1. In aquick break switch mechanism, a

pivoted switch blade, a pivoted crank, a bar pivoted to swing on a radius materially greater than the length of said crank arm. a connection between said bar and said switch blade, a hinge connection between -said bar and said crank, a spring connected to said hinge'connection, a latch for said hinge ponifiection and means for releasing said atc I 2. A quick break switch construction comprising, a hinged switch blade, an operating crank, a link connecting'sai'd crank and said blade, a pivoted handle, a hinged member connecting said handle and said crank, a latch for connecting the parts of said hinged member together to'enable the handle to close the switch, a spring tending to open the switch. and means for releasing said latch and permittingsaid spring to open the switch with a snap action.

3. In a switch, a movableswitch contact,

a box containing said contact, an external handle pivoted in one side of said box, a

crank on the inside of said box secured to .means for releasing said latch.

' 4. In a switch, two swinging members, one of which is longer than the other, a contact connected to the longer member, a handle connected to the shorter member, a hinged member connecting said swinging members,

'a latchconnecting the parts of said hinged member, a spring connected to one part of.

said hinged member, and means for releasing said latch.

5. In a switch, two swinging members,

one of which is longer than the other, a contact connected to the longer member, a 'handle connected to the shortermember, a.

hinged member connecting said swinging members, a latch connecting the parts of said hinged member, a springconnected to one part of said hinged member, and means for releasing said latch automatically when the handle is moved to open the circuit.

6. In a switch, two swinging members, one of'which is longer than the other, a contact connected to the longer member, a handle connected to the shorter member, a hinged member COIIIIGCtIIIg'SaId swinging members.

a latch connecting the partsof said hingedmember, a spring connected to one part of said hinged member, and means for releasing said-latch automatically when the handle is moved to open the circuit, and means for releasing said latch independently of the movement of the said handle.

7 In a switch, a hinged contact blade, a swinging member connected thereto, an operating crank, a hinged member connecting said crank and said swinging member, 'a latch carried by said swinging member normally interlocking the parts of said hinged mem er, a spring for moving said parts to .open the circuit when said latch is released,

and means for releasing said latch.

"8. In a switch, a hinged contact blade, a contact for said blade, a relatively long crank, a link connecting said crank and blade, a relatively short crank and a member permanently connecting said cranks whereby when the short crank is moved the long crank and link will move said'blade with a toggle action.

9. In a switch, a hinged contact blade pivoted on one center, a relatively long crank pivoted on a difi'erent center, a link connecting said crank and blade, a relatively. short crank pivoted on a center'difierent from the others and a member connecting sald cranks whereby when said cranks are when the crank'is manipulated the switch" will be opened or closed and means for breaking the rigidity of said hinge member when the opening movement of the switch is initiated.

12. In a switch, a switch blade. an operat ing crank, a normally rigid hinge member connecting said blade and crank whereby when the crank is manipulated the switch will be opened or closed. means for breaking the rigidity of said hinge member when the opening movement of the switch is initiated and means for opening said switch with a.

snap action after the rigidity of the hinge member has been broken. a

13. In a switch. a switch blade, an operating crank. a hinge connection between said crank and said switch blade, a latch for holding said hinge connection in one position, means for releasing said latch, a spring for opening said switch with a snap action after said latch is released and for returning said crank to the normal open switch position.

14. In a switch. a switch blade. an oper-' ating crank. a. handle connected to said crank. a hinge connection between said crank and said switch blade.'a latch for holding said hinge connection in one position. means for releasing said latch. a spring for opening said switch with a snap action after said latch is released and tor returning said'crank and handle to the normal open switch position.

15. In a switch. a switch blade. an operating crank. a normally rigid hinge member connecting said blade and crank whereby when the crank is manipulated the switch will be opened or closed. means for breaking the rigidity ot' said hinge member when the opening movement of the switch is initiated and means for opening said switch with a snap action after the rigidity oi the hinge member has been broken and 't'or returning the operating crank to the normal open switch position.

16. In a switch. a switch blade. an operating crank. a handle connected to said crank. a normally rigid hinge member con necting said blade and crank whereby when the crank is manipulated the switch will be opened or closed, means for breaking the rigidity of said hinge member when the opening movement of the switch is initiated and means for opening said switch with a snap action after the rigidity-of the hinge member has been broken and for returning the operating'crank and handle to the normal' open switch position.

' 17. In an electric switch, a hinged switch blade, a crank hinged adjacent thereto and adapted to stand substantially at right angles thereto-when the switch blade begins tocontact and connected to said switch blade, an operating crank, anda member, connecting said operating crank and said first-mentioned crank, said operating crank being substantially parallel with said switch blade when said switch blade is in a closed circuit position, whereby a powerful toggle action is produced during the latter portion of the closing movement of the switch mem ber.

18. In an electric switch, a stationary contact, a hinged switch member adapted to engage said contact, a. crank hinged adjacent said switchmeinber, a link connecting said crank and said switch member and standing substantially at right angles to said'switch member when said switch member begins to engage said contact. an operating crank, and amember connecting said operating crank and said first-mentioned crank, said operating crank extending substantially parallel with said connecting member when said switch member is in the closed circuit position. whereby a powerful toggle action is produced during the latter portion of theclosingmovement of the switch member.

19. J11 an electric switch, a stationary contact. a hinged switch member adapted toengage therewith. a crank connected to said hinged switch member at an acute angle when the hinged switch member is adjacent the stationary contact, an operating crank, and a member connecting said operating crank and said first-mentioned crank, said operating crank being substantially at right angles to said connecting member when the hinged switch member begins to engage said stationary contact. whereby a powerful toggle action is produced during the latter portion of the closing movement of the switch member.

it). In an electric switch, a movable member. a latch pivoted thereto. a hand operable crank. a bar connected to said crank and normally engaging said latch. a second bar hinged to said first bar and to said movable member. means for releasing said latch from said first bar. and a spring connected to said second bar tor moving said movable member when said latch is released and automatically re-engaging the said tirst bar with said latch.

BF N JAMIN E. GET'CH ELL. 

